Airliners-India

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/usa-india-bubble-flights-airlines/

According to this article, there are so many restrictions on the connecting (via EU or Middle East) bubble flights, that essentially Air India and United benefit the most. The schedule shows bubble flights till March 2021. Which means that, India may not allow regular air service (Pre-COVID) until April 2021. Good news for AI and to United (to some extent).

Not sure why DL is not taking advantage of this situation, they have a somewhat captive market with not much connection competition.

Below is AI and United's schedules on the India US routes:

Air India’s USA-India Flights Schedule: Phase 7
Delhi to SFO: Weekly five flights from NOV 1 to MAR 27, 2021
SFO to Delhi: Weekly five flights from NOV 1 to MAR 13, 2021
SFO to Delhi: Weekly three flights from MAR 15 to MAR 27, 2021
Delhi to Chicago: Weekly six flights from NOV 1 to MAR 28, 2021
Chicago to Delhi: Weekly six flights from NOV 1 to MAR 27, 2021
Delhi to NY JFK: Weekly three flights from NOV 1 to MAR 12, 2021
Delhi to NY JFK: Weekly three flights from MAR 14 to MAR 26, 2021
NY JFK to Delhi: Weekly three flights from NOV 1 to MAR 12, 2021
NY JFK to Delhi: Weekly three flights from MAR 14 to MAR 26, 2021
Delhi to Newark: Weekly three flights from NOV 3 to MAR 13, 2021
Delhi to Newark: Weekly three flights from MAR 16 to MAR 27, 2021
Newark to Delhi: Weekly three flights from NOV 3 to MAR 13, 2021
Newark to Delhi: Weekly three flights from MAR 16 to MAR 27, 2021
Delhi-Washington: Weekly three flights from NOV 1 to MAR 12, 2021
DEL-Washington: Weekly three flights from MAR 14 to MAR 26, 2021
Washington-DEL: Weekly three flights from NOV 1 to MAR 12, 2021
Washington-DEL: Weekly three flights from MAR 14 to MAR 26, 2021
Mumbai-Newark: Weekly three flights from NOV 1 to MAR 12, 2021
Mumbai-Newark: Weekly three flights from MAR 14 to MAR 26, 2021
Newark-Mumbai: Weekly three flights from NOV 1 to MAR 12, 2021
Newark-Mumbai: Weekly three flights from MAR 14 to MAR 26, 2021

United Airlines’ October Schedule of USA-India Flights
Mumbai to Newark daily flight (UA830)
Newark to Mumbai daily flight (UA829)
Delhi to Newark daily flight (UA802)
Newark to Delhi daily flight (UA801)
Delhi to SFO (UA868) Mon/Wed/Sat
SFO to Delhi flights (UA867) Mon/Thu/Sat

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

https://simpleflying.com/montreal-delhi-air-canada/

Air Canada announced that it will start flying Montreal to Delhi three times a week service from April 2021.

Now it could be Air India's turn to start services in this sector.

AI, AC, United are taking advantage of the limited 1 stop competition.

I am wondering why Delta is delaying the JFK to BOM flight, many passengers are hesitating to book via Europe, this may be the opportunity to restart that flight.

The_Goat · Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:01 pm Post subject:

Wasn't AA supposed to start ORD-BOM or ORD-DEL at some point? I think they cancelled the launch because of COVID. Haven't heard the latest though.
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I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
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iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

In the article posted by sabya99, now KLM has suspended all long haul flights until further notice, which means no flights to DEL and BOM.

With this DL loses one more connection, they made a big deal about that with the Indian Govt and objected to SpiceJet's flights to US. What is DL waiting for. DL must now realize that not many passengers will fly on the remaining few one stop connecting flights. They should restart JFK-BOM now, AI, AC and UA are taking full advantage of the flights.

Caliguy · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 6:34 am Post subject:

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/india-new-rules-inbound-flyers-22-february/

Air India, United and Air Canada must be delighted to learn that India has extended the covid restrictions on 1 stop services via UK, Europe and Middle East.

AI and AC benefit the most with limited ME3 competition, United benefits less as LH flights are also impacted, they still are getting less competition especially with DL and AA out of the picture for now. I guess these airlines are hoping that once the restrictions are lifted, passengers will continue to use nonstops.

Make hay while the sun shines.

747-237 · Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:52 am Post subject:

I heard from a travel agent in India that EK “has been allowed by the Indian and US Govts to transport people between India and the USA and vice-versa, via DXB”. I know of people who have actually booked tickets on EK for BOM-DXB-LAX.. I haven’t seen mention of this new rule anywhere else. I wonder if its correct. It’s getting very hard to keep up and understand the ever changing rules for India-US / US-India travel.
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iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2021/American-Airlines-Uses-Partnerships-to-Grow-Its-Network-Offer-Customers-More-Choice-and-Provide-a-Premier-Travel-Experience-in-the-Northeast-NET-ALP-04/default.aspx

Fastest growing network to India
Beginning Oct. 31, American will launch nonstop service from New York (JFK) to New Delhi (DEL) on a Boeing 777-200 to meet the strong local demand. With its Qatar Airways partnership and previously announced Seattle (SEA) to Bengaluru, India (BLR), route, American will offer customers more ways to fly between the United States and India than any other airline partnership. Flights to New Delhi will conveniently connect customers to India’s capital territory three times per week, and then daily during the holiday peak from Nov. 17 to Jan. 3.

AA to start JFK - DEL from Oct 24th. What is DL's loss is AA's gain, however AA would have been better off serving BOM as BOM is underserved compared to DEL.

And AA is still hoping to start SEA-BLR. I will believe it only when they start the services. Some how I doubt this.

The_Goat · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 12:56 pm Post subject:

Caliguy · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 5:59 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 9:25 am Post subject:

https://www.news18.com/news/auto/asked-to-undergo-rt-pcr-test-at-delhi-airport-united-flight-crew-flies-empty-plane-back-to-nyc-3671105.html

Asked to Undergo RT-PCR Test at Delhi Airport, United Airlines Crew Flies Empty Plane Back to NYC

April 23, 2021

In a rather strange turn of events, a United Airlines flight is flying back to New York City from Delhi Airport without any passengers. The flight will land in NYC with no passengers after the United Crew refused to undergo RT-PCR test at the Delhi Airport and decided to fly back without carrying passengers. Shortly after, United Airlines has cancelled all Delhi flights until further notice.

A statement by United Airlines states - “As we seek clarity regarding travel requirements to India, we have temporarily suspended service. We are working to provide alternate options to our customers and plan to resume our scheduled service as soon as possible”.

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747-237 · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 5:00 pm Post subject:

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/united-airlines-to-resume-flights-from-delhi-to-us-on-april-25-6810001.html

United Airlines to resume flights from Delhi to US on April 25

APRIL 24, 2021

United Airlines has said it will resume flights from New Delhi to the US from April 25. “United Airlines is scheduled to resume flights from Delhi to the United States from Sunday 25 April,” United Airlines spokesperson said.

The airline had temporarily suspended services to Delhi on April 23, citing restrictions related to COVID-19.

Confirming the development then, a United Airlines spokesperson had told Moneycontrol: “As we seek clarity regarding COVID-19 travel requirements to India, we have temporarily suspended service to Delhi for April 22 and cancelled the corresponding return flights. We are working to provide alternate options to our customers and plan to resume our scheduled service as soon as possible.”

In a communication to customers about its flight UA802 for April 23, from Delhi to New York, the airline had said: "Your United Flight on Apr23 from Delhi has been cancelled because ongoing COVID-19 travel requirement discussions with local authorities are impacting our ability to operate your flight. We are working to address the issue and hope to have it resolved quickly..."

Data from FlightRadar24 shows all United flights into Delhi, from Chicago, San Francisco and New York, were cancelled.
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747-237 · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 7:49 am Post subject:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/air-india-us-nonstop-frequency-to-be-back-to-pre-covid-level-soon/articleshow/82297240.cms

Big rush to get to US, Air India ups nonstops to preCovid level

Apr 28, 2021

Air India is soon going to operate almost as many nonstops to the US as it did in pre-pandemic times, thanks to a scramble to reach there for two main reasons.

Indians/NRIs/PIOs fear the US may also close its doors for them like several others countries have done during the ongoing uncontrolled explosion of Covid cases and are rushing back.

Secondly, they fear falling sick in India at a time when the healthcare system here has crumbled and crematoriums are working overtime. Due to this demand surge, Air India is going to operate 32 weekly nonstops to the US by May 11, just one shot of its pre-pandemic frequency of 33.

Air India uses two versions of its Boeing 777 for North America — 238 seater long-range (mainly for the west coast) and 342- seater extended range (east coast). “India-US flights are going full (leading to high fares) with people scrambling to return. Most Air India and United India-US flights till about mid-May are almost sold out,” said people in the know.

The flights to India, on their other hand, have much lighter loads with 150 180 passengers, they add. The rush to the US has seen fares jump with oneway economy India-New York often costing Rs 1.5 lakh.

Canada last Friday (April 23) suspended all passenger flights from India for 30 days. Following this, Air India had to cancel all its flights to Vancouver and Toronto till May 22. Given the demand for the US and the B777s spare with Canada flights cancelled, the soon-to-be-privatised Maharaja started adding US nonstops under the air bubble between the two countries. It started a new route also, Delhi-Newark.

An Air India spokesperson said: “Prior to recent discontinuation of our flights to Canada, we were operating 29 flights per week to the US. We planned to increase the frequency to 30 and 32 per week from May 16 and 18, respectively. After discontinuation of Canada flights… an increase in frequency to 30 and 32 per week has been preponed to May 9 and 11, 2021, respectively.” In pre-covid days till March 15, 2020, Air India had about 33 flights weekly to the US.

The mainstay of Air India international operations are the medium range 256-seater B787 Dreamliners used for Europe, the far east and Australia; and the B777s for North America.

“The rush to reach the US before, God forbid, it also closes its doors from India will be over in a few days. Then the loads on the India-US sector could also fall. In that case, it will make sense to use the relatively smaller Dreamliners to North America for commercial reasons. The Dreamliners as of now, anyway, have very few places to go to with restrictions by the US, UK, Germany, France, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. If these places still remain close by the time India-US rush subsides, they can be used for US flights,” said people in the know.

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iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-expected-restrict-travel-india-133649432.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/30/us-to-restrict-travel-from-covid-ravaged-india.html

There goes US too, one of the few countries which is still allowing Indian nationals with only a negative covid test. This restriction is from Tuesday, May 4. It is expected to allow only diplomats, crew, US citizens and permanent residents and certain other categories - not clear what will be included in the categories.

Both AI and United will have to cut back on India-US flights, as the traffic will not be that much if it does not include Indian citizens who are not residents of US.

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/canada-resumes-direct-flights-to-from-india-after-5-months-delhi-to-be-connected-first/articleshow/86373246.cms

After Govt of Canada gave approval for direct flights from India, Air Canada will start flights from next week on Toronto - Delhi route, but the requirements are numerous for any one going to Canada.

Apart from taking WHO approved vaccines (which means currently only Covishield and other vaccines in Canada are approved), all passengers must take RTPCR test at Delhi airport lounge within 18 hours of the flight, even connecting passengers.

AI is going to start the flights soon, but may have to follow the same guidelines as AC.

luvleen · Member Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 179 Location: Bombay

https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/en/about-air-transport-bubbles

Based on this, on the India-US sector, Indian nationals can only travel on non-stops between India and US (i.e. Indian nationals cannot transit at any point in ME or EUR). Is this correct or am I interpreting this incorrectly? Id this indeed is the case, AI/UA would (and should) be jumping at this opportunity to introduce more non-stops to US

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-airlines-russian-airspace/

UA is suspending flights on EWR-BOM and SFO-DEL temporarily until it can figure out how to operate without too much disruption. Which means SFO-BLR will be delayed further until the Russian air space is available again for use for US airlines.

AI for now is operating as scheduled as it can use Russian air space, although I am not sure for how long.

Already Air Canada will be making regular fuel stops on the DEL-Toronto or Montreal flights at Dublin.

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2557

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/air-canada-to-launch-seasonal-flights-to-bangkok-and-mumbai-for-winter-2022-23-850009846.html#:~:text=MONTREAL%2C%20June%2020%2C%202022%20%2F,in%20the%20strategic%20India%20market.

AC to start Toronto - BOM via LHR (one stop service).

Do the India-UK bilaterals allow for traffic rights for third country airlines at LHR.

747-237 · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2022 6:04 am Post subject:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/lufthansa-halves-baggage-allowance-for-india-north-america-economy-flyers-other-airlines-may-follow-suit/articleshow/93258536.cms

Lufthansa halves baggage allowance for India-North America economy flyers; other airlines may follow suit

Jul 31, 2022

Flying between India and North America — that anyway costs a fortune these days due to sky-high airfares and a weak rupee — could now get even more expensive for those who don’t exactly travel light.
German mega carrier Lufthansa will permit only one check-in bag of upto 23 kg without extra charge to economy passengers booking tickets starting Monday (Aug 1) to fly between India and North America, halving from the earlier allowance of two bags. Passengers who have booked tickets before till July 31 will not be charged extra on this count.

For those booking now, checking in the second bag will cost Euro 200 if purchased online in advance or Euro 250 for doing so at the check-in counter. So a person booking an economy Delhi-New York or Vancouver-Delhi ticket on Lufthansa will now have to shell out Euro 400 extra for the return trip for checking-in the second bag if purchased in advance; or Euro 500 if paying for the second bag at check-in counter.

Senior EU airline officials say skyrocketing oil prices have forced them to look at maximising revenue from cargo hold by making passengers pay extra for the second bag and/or leave more space for paid cargo by dissuading many from checking-in two bags. More airlines globally could follow suit.

US carriers have for the past few years been allowing only one check-in bag without an extra charge from economy passengers. Air India allows two, and this is among the factors that have made its North America nonstops a favourite with travellers despite a sub-optimal onboard experience on its relatively old fleet of aircraft that were poorly maintained in the Maharaja’s sate-owned days.

A leading travel agent shared a communication from Lufthansa that said: “Effective August 1, 2022, Lufthansa Group’s check-in free baggage policy has been aligned with our Atlantic Joint Venture Partners, United Airlines and Air Canada. On all routes between India and North America (USA, Canada, Mexico, etc) Lufthansa group together with its partners will offer one piece of free check-in baggage in economy class.”

“Baggage policies for all other compartments as well as additional free baggage allowance for status customers will remain unchanged. All bookings that have been ticketed until July 31, 2022, will be accepted as per the current baggage allowance,” the communication adds.
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